Matthew 13:37-58

37 The history of the kingdom proclamation in Acts and what is predicted the circumcision epistles and the Unveiling fully bears out our Lord's forecast. There were the seven sons of Sceva (Act_19:15), the wolves in Ephesus (Act_20:29), the rich in (Jam_5:1), the false prophets of second Peter and those who follow them, those who slip in, according to (Jud_1:4), and many in the Unveiling, such as the false apostles (Rev_2:2), those who are of the synagogue of Satan (Rev_2:9), the Nicolaitans (Rev_2:15), Jezebel (Rev_2:20), and great Babylon (Rev_18:1 - Rev_19:5) all these hypocrites were as darnel in the field, and have been allowed to flourish hitherto. But when the harvest comes the wicked will be severed from among the just and given up to judgment. No such severance shall take place in the body of Christ. Its members are beyond the sphere of condemnation (Rom_8:1). There is no excuse for their having fellowship with unbelievers (2Co_6:14). They should be separate. This passage has no bearing on our conduct. It is concerned with the Circumcision alone.

44 In a country subject to revolutions, invasions, and robbers, it was customary to hide money and valuables in secret cistern-like vaults in the fields. Such are not seldom found by accident, and often cause much excitement. It would be dangerous to dig in another man's field. Hence the buying. Israel is the treasure. The field is the world (see 38). In order to possess Himself of the treasure, the Son of Mankind gives His all and purchases the world. He has overpaid its price by His blood.

45 The parable of the pearl is another aspect of the truth revealed by the parable of the treasure hid in the field. The sea is a picture of the nations, among whom Israel is scattered. The dispersion among the nations is the precious pearl sought by the Merchant, Who gave up all His riches to purchase it for Himself. They will be His special treasure in that day. There is no ground for the popular idea that Christ is the pearl, found by the sinner seeking salvation. He is, indeed precious, but sinners are not, seekers. It is always the Saviour Who finds the lost. He is not lost nor hidden. Here is another aspect of Israel's dispersion among the nations. In the conclusion of this eon-still future-Israel will be drawn from among all peoples. There will be a separation, such as was indicated in the parable of the darnel, and the bad will be destroyed in the terrible judgments of the seven bowls (Rev_15:5; Rev_16:21).

53-58 Compare Mar_6:1-6.

53 Notwithstanding the treatment He had received when He visited Nazareth before (Luk_4:15-30), when they had actually tried to put Him to death, and the fact that His own brethren had declared Him to be mad, He graciously returns to the home of His youth, staying this time as long as He desired, and meeting no open hostility. It may be that He wished to refute the rumors His brethren had spread concerning Him by His presence and by healing their sick. But the Nazarenes found it impossible to put aside their prejudices. How could He, a mere townsman of theirs, amount to anything? They knew all about Him and His family. So it was with the prophets, and continues to this day. No man of God need expect recognition from those with whom he is familiar.

54 See Joh_7:16-17.

55 See Isa_49:753:2; Isa_49:3 Act_1:14.

1-5 Compare Mar_6:14-20 Luk_9:7-9.

1 There are a number of the Herodian family referred to in the Scriptures. This one, usually called Herod Antipas, was one of the sons of Herod the Great (Mat_2:1 Luk_1:6) who had sought to kill our Lord soon after His birth. Two of his half-brothers are also mentioned, Herod Philip I. who had first married Herodias (Mat_14:3 Mar_6:17 Luk_3:19), and Herod Philip II. (Luk_3:1). Archclaus (Mat_2:22) was his full brother. Another half-brother, Aristobulus, was the father of Herod, king of Chalcis (Act_25:13), Herod Agrippa I. (Act_12:1-23), and Herodias, whose marriage, first to Herod Philip I. and then to Herod Antipas, was the cause of John the baptist's death. Agrippa II. (Act_25:13) was a son of Agrippa I. Bernice (Act_25:13) and Drusilla (Act_24:24) were his sisters. Herod the tetrarch, here referred to, was a son of Herod the Great by a Samaritan woman named Malthace. After his father's death the Romans appointed him tetrarch of Galilee and

Perea, so that by far the greater part of our Lord's ministry was carried on in his dominions. His first wife was a daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia, who made war with him and conquered him because he had repudiated his daughter in order to marry Herodias, his half-brother Philip's wife. This woman brought him to his ruin. She was exceedingly ambitious and induced him to go to the emperor at Rome and seek the title of king. But Herodias' brother, Herod Agrippa I. brought accusations against him, so that Caligula banished him to Gaul, where he seems to have died.